Comparative and superlative

Comparative andSuperlative adjectives

English B1 Teacher Ana Karen Candia

Comparative

what is that and how do I use it?

Comparative

We use comparative adjectives to show change or make comparisons: This car is certainly better, but it's much more expensive. I'm feeling happier now. We need a bigger garden. We use than when we want to compare one thing with another: She is two years older than me. New York is much bigger than Boston. He is a better player than Ronaldo. France is a bigger country than Britain.

Comparative

When we want to describe how something or someone changes we can use two comparatives with and: The balloon got bigger and bigger. Everything is getting more and more expensive. Grandfather is looking older and older. We often use the with comparative adjectives to show that one thing depends on another: The faster you drive, the more dangerous it is. (= When you drive faster, it is more dangerous.) The higher they climbed, the colder it got. (= When they climbed higher, it got colder.)

Superlative

What is that and how do I use it?

How to form comparative and superlative adjectives?

We use the with superlative adjectives:

• It was the happiest day of my life.
• Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
• That’s the best film I have seen this year.
• I have three sisters: Jan is the oldest and Angela is the youngest.

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How to form

Comparative and Superlative adjectives?

We usually add –er and –est to one-syllable words to make comparatives and superlatives:

Superlative

Comparative

Adjective

OldestOlder

OlderLonger

OldLong

If an adjective ends in –e, we add –r or –stcomparatives and superlatives:

Superlative

Comparative

Adjective

NicestLargest

NicerLarger

NiceLarge

If an adjective ends in a vowel and a consonant, we double the consonant:

Superlative

Comparative

Adjective

BiggestFattest

BiggerFatter

BigFat

If an adjective ends in a consonant and –y, we change –y to –i and add –er or –est:

Superlative

Comparative

Adjective

HappiestSilliest

HappierSillier

HappySilly

We use more and most to make comparatives and superlatives for most two syllable adjectives and for all adjectives with three or more syllables:

Superlative

Comparative

Adjective

most carefulmost interesting

more carefulmore interesting

CarefulInteresting

AS +...+ AS

Comparatives with as